Ongoing cancellations, postponements, changes of venue

Posted
Monday, May 25, 2020 12:04 am

Bailey Playground between West 234th and West 237th streets remains closed during the coronavirus pandemic statewide lockdown.

MICHAEL HINMAN

STAFF REPORT

This is an ongoing list of cancellations, postponements and venue changes for the greater Riverdale/Kingsbridge/Marble Hill area, because of the ongoing issues with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

If you have something that you would like to be considered for this list, or if there is something missing, please reach out to us at newsroom@riverdalepress.com.

This list is updated on a regular basis. Last update was May 31 at 6 a.m.

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• Alternate-side parking is suspended until Sunday, June 7.

At that time, Mayor Bill de Blasio will explore whether to extend that suspension. Anyone who has received a ticket while in mandatory or self-quarantine before the suspension has started have the ability to appeal such a ticket. Details are available by clicking here.

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• Free breakfast, lunch and dinner is available for anyone in need, whether they have children in public school students or not, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the following locations:

P.S. 24 at 660 W. 236th St. (kosher options)

P.S. 86 at 2756 Reservoir Ave.

P.S. 95 at 3961 Hillman Ave.

P.S. 207 at 3030 Godwin Terrace

Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy at 660 W. 237th St.

No one picking up food will be asked for ID, and parents or guardians are permitted to pick up food for their children.

For more information, or for more of 400-plus locations offering food to kids, visit Schools.nyc.gov.

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• Help support local journalism during these trying times, where you need us the most — and we need you the most. We appreciate any donation — whether it's one-time, or recurring — while we continue to bring you the latest on the coronavirus crisis, as only The Riverdale Press can.

• The state tax filing deadline has moved from April 15 to July 15, to correspond with federal changes in when taxes must be filed.

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• Except for those meetings specifically canceled, committee meetings for Community Board 8 are continuing as scheduled, but will be conducted via conference call or through online video conferencing on platforms like Zoom. Visit NYC.gov/CB8 for updates.

Community board staff members will work remotely, with all in-person meetings and interactions canceled.

• BJ's Wholesale stores, including the one located at 184 W. 237th St., opens an hour earlier each day for members who are 60 or older. That means from 8 to 9 a.m., those who might be most vulnerable to the coronavirus can visit stores using a special entrance.

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• The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., is closed. However, the organization opens its virtual gates to let visitors engage with the garden and its programs from the comfort of their homes.

• Several senior citizen centers are preparing meals to give to seniors as a grab-and-go in the area. They include:

Riverdale Senior Services, 2600 Netherland Ave., (718) 884-5900

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 DeKalb Av., (718) 882-4000

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, 3880 Sedgwick Ave., (718) 549-4700

The Riverdale Y, 5626 Arlington Ave., (347) 913-4390

Officials at the centers ask that anyone wishing to stop by to please call ahead first.

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• All schools have closed their campuses, although select schools — including Manhattan College and the College of Mount Saint Vincent — are providing virtual classes.

Regional enrichment centers are opened for children of first responders, health care workers, and children of the community's "most vulnerable."

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• The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is no longer scheduled shared rides for Access-A-Ride. Those needing transportation through the service will still be allowed to travel with a personal care attendant and approved guest, however.

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• New York City courts have suspended non-essential court proceedings, including all evictions proceedings and pending eviction orders.

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• The state's Department of Motor Vehicles is open by appointment only.

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• All local public libraries are closed.

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• RSS-Riverdale Senior Services, like all senior centers in the city, is closed, affecting all programming and congregate meals. However, a limited number of members are able to pick up meals from the center, located at 2600 Netherland Ave. RSS needs volunteers to help distribute or even deliver meals to those in need.

Social workers and other limited staff are available for members by calling (718) 884-5900, and leaving a detailed message. Some support groups may take place via conference call, while others could go online, like a video of a tai chi class.

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• The Van Cortlandt House Museum on Broadway, near the entrance of Van Cortlandt Park, is closed until further notice. This includes all public programs, tours and field trips.

The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, which operates the museum, still offers virtual tours through the museum's website at VCHM.org.

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• The Red Door Concert series, a set of musical events at the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 4765 Henry Hudson Parkway W., are canceled until further notice. For more information, visit RiverdalePC.org.

• The Riverside and Riverdale Learn 'n Play Daycare Centers, 251 W. 254th St., remains open, and is expanding child care services to first responders, health care workers, and those who must work away from home. For more information, call (718) 548-0848.

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• The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance has canceled all of its programs until further notice. During this time, the group's staff members will work from home and be available via email to answer any questions. Van Cortlandt Park, along with other city parks, remain open, and the group continues to accept applications for its summer teen internship program through April 26.

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• Councilman Andrew Cohen has closed his constituent office, but his staff continues to answer emails and phone calls. His office can be emailed at district11@council.nyc.gov, or called at (718) 549-7300.

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• U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel has closed his Washington and district offices, but will continue to have his staff return calls and emails to constituents as quickly as possible. Emails can be sent to Engel.house.gov/email/, while calls can be made to (202) 225-2464.

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• Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has closed his offices, limiting constituent services to email and telephone only. His office will not be open for any in-person services or notaries. The Assemblyman's office can be reached by email at dinowitzj@nyassembly.gov, or by calling (718) 796-5345.

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• The Riverdale Neighborhood House and Riverdale Community Center have halted all programs. No teachers and other program leaders will be on-site, although work will be done to provide support for students and their families remotely.

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• Platforms hosted by the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture move online using the Zoom application. For more information on how to connect with the app, call (718) 548-4445.

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• All shows at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd., have been postponed. The box office can be reached at (718) 960-8833.

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• The Bronx Documentary Center, 614 Courtlandt Ave., in the South Bronx, has closed its facilities and canceled all scheduled events and on-site educational programs. The center's galleries, photobook library and labs also are closed.

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• The Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd,, is closed until further notice.

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• All programs have been canceled at Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St., and the grounds themselves have been closed.

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• Urban Studio Unbound, 16 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, will keep its doors open for an exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of Satish Joshi's tenure in the United States. For more information, visit UrbanStudioUnbound.org.

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• The Bronx County Bar Association, its library and referral service is closed.

What you can do about COVID-19

According to the city's health department, COVID-19 is described as a new onset of fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat that cannot be attributed to an underlying or previously recognized condition.

In children, fever with sore throat may be attributable to conditions other than COVID-19 (like strep throat), and parents should consult with a health care provider to rule out any other causes.

Several commercial and hospital-based laboratories are offering COVID-19 testing, although the health department discourages anyone showing mild illness symptoms who can safely manage at home from being tested, unless a diagnosis may impact patient management. This will help minimize possible exposure to health care workers, other patients, and the public, while reducing the demand for personal protective equipment.

Those who are not hospitalized but who have possible or confirmed COVID-19 should isolate themselves in a private residence until seven days following the onset of illness, and 72 hours after their last fever, without the help of any medication to reduce it.

Those who are self-quarantining should not attend work or school, and should avoid public settings and other situations that may permit close contact with others.

Social distancing may have the greatest impact on minimizing transmission, health department officials add. People should stay home unless they need to go out, and should act as if they've been exposed to the virus, thus monitoring their vitals and looking for symptoms.

Eligibility for diagnostic COVID-19 testing

Testing is now available to anyone who needs a test, meeting this specific criteria:

Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms

Anyone who has had contact with someone known to be positive for the COVID-19 virus

Anyone subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine

Any health care or nursing home worker, and any first responder

Any essential worker who directly interacts with the public while working

Anyone planning to return to work during the first phase of the state's reopening plan, which continues for nearly all of upstate this week.

What businesses are 'essential' businesses?

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order essentially shutting down the state to all activity except for that which is deemed "essential" is in effect. This means that any non-essential business or group must have no one working on site, and that people should stay home unless they absolutely have somewhere to go.

As part of Cuomo's executive order, a number of businesses and organizations have been deemed "essential." They include:

• Infrastructure like utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission; public water and wastewater; telecommunications and data centers; airports and airlines; transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail or for-hire vehicles and garages; hotels and other places of accommodation.

• Construction, including skilled trades such as electricians and plumbing, and other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes.

• Defense, including national security-related operations supporting the U.S. government, or a contractor to the U.S. government.

• Services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of homes or other essential businesses, like law enforcement, fire prevention and response, building code enforcement, security, emergency management and response, building cleaners or janitors, general maintenance, automotive repair, disinfection.

• Vendors who provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services. And also including logistics, technology support for online services, child care programs and services, government-owned or leased buildings, and essential government services.

Although houses of worship are not ordered closed, it is strongly recommended that no congregate services be held, and social distance is maintained.

Even for those businesses and entities deemed "essential," Cuomo's order urges the maintenance of "social distance" of at least six feet between people.

Additional COVID-19 resources

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel has compiled some additional resources for those looking for more information or materials related to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

• New York's coronavirus hotline is available at (888) 364-3065, and provides general information about the coronavirus, as well as test information. Other questions can be directed to 311.

• Free mental health services — including emotional support, consultation, and referral to a provider — is available at (844) 863-9314. Anyone seeking immediate mental health services during the outbreak can text "Well" to 65173*, or call (888) 692-9355.

• Students looking for electronic devices for remote learning can fill out a form available by clicking here.

• Want to donate blood? Call (800) 933-2566 to make an appointment.

• Text "COVID" to 692-692 for COVID-19-related updates sent to your phone. To get updates in Spanish, text "COVIDESP."

Ongoing coronavirus coverage

Here are stories about COVID-19 that have appeared in The Riverdale Press. Please note that stories are accurate as to the date of publication, and that some information may have changed since these stories were published.

Follow all the local coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and how it relates to your neighborhood at RiverdalePress.com/coronavirus. Sign up for our newsletter to get daily updates on coverage and closing by sending your email address to newsroom@riverdalepress.com. And finally, keep up with all the latest closures, postponements and what you can still take part in with our continuously updated list by clicking here.

So many words have been written and spoken about Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer since all four feet, seven inches of her first walked onto the public stage in 1980. She’s lived just south of us in Washington Heights since well before she was known outside her circle of friends. And many of her family — including a daughter and grandchildren — call Riverdale home.